Collapsible tube squeezer



M h 10, 1959 B. J. BRIM 7 2,876,934

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SQUEEZER Filed Sept. 4, 1956 Bernice J Brim I INVENTOR.

(pal/q 3m United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SQUEEZER Bernice J. Brim, Galveston, Tex., assignor of one-fourth to Gary B. Brim, Galveston, Tex.

Application September 4, 1956, Serial No. 607,768

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-102) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in collapsible tube squeezers and has for its primary object to provide novel means for extruding any desired quantity of toothpaste, shaving cream, paint and other products from such containers in a convenient, sanitary manner.

Another important object of the invention is to provide, in a collapsible tube squeezer or dispenser of the type comprising a pair of opposed, coacting rollers for receiving and progressively squeezing the tube therebetween, unique means for manually actuating said rollers.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a collapsible tube squeezer of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible tube squeezer constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the device, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section, taken substan tially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises an elongated housing of suitable material, preferably a plastic, which is designated generally by reference character 5. The housing 5, which may be of any desired dimensions, is for the reception of a conventional collapsible tube 6. Toward this end, the housing 5 includes a top 7 which is hingedly mounted on the upper end of the back 8 of said housing, as indicated at 9.

The chamber 10 in the housing 5 is formed to accommodate the collapsible tube 6. The side portions of the chamber 10 are formed to provide vertical channels 11 which are open at their upper ends. The bottom 12 of the housing 5 closes the lower ends of the channels 11.

The housing 5 further includes a relatively thick side portion 13 having formed therein a vertical groove 14 which opens at the front of said housing. The groove 14 communicates with the adjacent channel 11 and the chamber 10 through a vertical slot 15 in the housing 5.

A pair of bearing blocks or plates 16 are slidably mounted in the channels 11. The trunnions of a pair of squeezing rollers 17 and 18 are joumaled in the blocks 16. The roller 18 is connected to the roller 17 for actuation thereby through the medium of meshed gears 19 on the end portions of said rollers. As shown to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawing, the blocks 16 are recessed to accommodate the gears 19.

The drive roller 17 includes, on one end, a relatively long trunnion or shaft 20 which extends through the slot 15, traverses the groove 14 and has its free end portion engaged in a vertical groove 21 which is provided therefor in the outer side wall of said groove 14. A ratchet wheel 22 is fixed on the shaft 20 in the groove 14. Journaled on the shaft 20, adjacent the ratchet wheel 22, is a thumb lever 23 which projects from the front of the housing 5. A pawl 24 operatively connects the lever 23 to the ratchet wheel 22 for actuating the rollers 17 and 18 for advancing said rollers on the collapsible tube 6. A return spring 25 is provided on the shaft 20 for the lever 23. In the embodiment shown, one end portion of the spring 25 is engaged under tension in the groove 21.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. The hinged top 7 of the housing 5 is provided with a discharge nozzle 26 for the reception of the usual neck 27 of the collapsible tube 6. With the tube 6 inserted in the housing 5 and the closed lower end portion 28 thereof engaged between the rollers 17 and 18, the thumb lever 23 is actuated against the tension of the spring 25. Thus, the rollers 17 and 18 are actuated in opposite directions for advancing said rollers on the tube 6 and squeezing same therebetween for extruding the toothpaste or other product therein. When the thumb lever 23 is released, said lever is returned to its starting position by the spring 25. If desired, a suitable latch may be provided for securing the top 7 of the housing 5 in closed position. Also, a suitable closure cap may be provided for the nozzle 26.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A collapsible tube squeezer comprising a vertically elongated housing for the reception of the tube, said housing including a back, sides and a front, one of said sides having a vertical groove therein open at the front, said groove comprising a pair of opposed walls, one of said walls having a vertical slot therein communicating with the housing, the other of said walls having a vertical groove therein, a pair of rollers operable in the housing for receiving and squeezing the tube therebetween, a shaft on one of the rollers operable in the slot and the second named groove, a lever joumaled for vertical swinging movement on the shaft and emerging from the first named groove for actuation from the front of the housing, means operatively connecting the rollers for rotation in unison, and means operatively connecting the lever to the shaft for actuating the rollers.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,295,433 Chipperfield Feb. 25, 1919 1,930,821 Newcomer Oct. 17, 1933 2,016,269 Johnson Oct. 1, 1935 2,578,472 Gunnarson Dec. 11, 1951 2,670,876 Clouse Mar. 2, 1954 

